Skol303

[size=5][color=#B22222][b]March's Composition Challenge is now underway.[/b][/color][/size] [size=5]Here's the image for your inspiration, as chosen by last month’s winner [b]the boy[/b]…[/size] [size=5]And here are the rules 'n' stuff…[/size] By entering the competition you agree to the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules"]Basschat Terms & Conditions[/url] and [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/3178-forum-guidelines/"]Forum Guidelines[/url], which are designed to help ensure the forum remains free of offensive and/or illegal behaviour and material. In a nutshell: [b]1) Please avoid any content that other forum users may find offensive.[/b] If your track contains explicit lyrics, for example, then please warn other forum users so they can choose for themselves whether to listen to it. [b]2) Please make sure you have permission to use any 3rd party sounds included in your track[/b] (ie. sounds that you have not recorded yourself, such as samples of other people's music). The owners of Basschat accept no responsibility for infringements of copyright or other forms of legal ownership, which are solely the responsibility of competition entrants. If we spot any breaches of copyright then your track will be removed from the competition. For reference: here's a great source of copyright-free material, all available under Creative Commons license: http://www.freesound.org/ [b]3) Entries should be no more than five minutes long and written/produced during the month of the competition[/b], taking inspiration from the photo provided. No cheating! If you have any questions about the competition rules, just ask. [b][size=5][color=#B22222]The deadline for entries is midnight on Monday 24th March.[/color][/size][/b] Get busy!

We have our photo for March and it's a cracker! I'll launch the new challenge this evening once I get on my 'puter.

[color=#b22222][size=5][b]And this month's winner is... the boy![/b][/size][/color] Well done. Great track

Et voila! PS: I love the Partridge bass above! That's ace

I've been meaning to post some constructive feedback on everyone's entries, so here goes...! [b]stu g:[/b] Wow, this is crazy I like how the sense of rhythm starts to build in the beginning. The synths are cool. The sense of chaos you’ve created makes it sound suitable busy and bustling. Production-wise it sounds a little muffled - some of the elements could do with being ‘picked out’ more, to prevent it all blurring into one sound. A very inventive track! [b]Dad3353:[/b] Nice use of field recordings and samples! I’m immediately picturing a busy station. The engine hum in particular gives it a sense of rhythm. Some of the sounds could perhaps be panned harder L/R to create a bigger ‘sense of space’; maybe a little more variation would have helped too. The ending is great! Production sounds fine. Good work, Doug. [b]Ou7shined: [/b]As those above, good use of samples. Love the bass tone/playing. Interesting melody. The simple rhythm part really works. I really like the middle section where the bass drops out, leaving just the ghostly synth part. Subtle but very effective. Nice mix and production. Great track! [b]Stephen Houghton:[/b] I like what you’ve done here Steve! It’s a really good stab at the 60/70s soul vibe. Production sounds nice: good panning; maybe just needs some more ‘welly’ in the low end - bass and kick drum - to give it a fatter sound and help propel the track along a bit harder. Lovely keys and brass sections. Like the lyrics. Vocals sound a wee bit thin and trebly - again, needs a touch more bass to thicken it up. All in all, really good! [b]lurksalot: [/b]Very ambitious track lurks! Very creative too. The strings all sound ace. The vocal is a damn good effort and bold as brass! Either you’re singing a second part in falsetto or I can hear two voices here - ? The track has tons of potential and I can really hear what you had in mind with this - but it’s not [i]quite[/i] there. Still, it’s not a genre I would ever attempt myself - I’m too chicken! - and top marks for throwing a curveball and taking me by surprise. [b]AL-the-Bassman:[/b] Bam! Straight into this track and I already like it. Nice playing and tone as always. I’m amazed that the ‘guitar’ parts were played on a bass - very clever and good production. The 'news' sample works well, but I’m not sure it works throughout the track: it ends up being a bit distracting. The track itself is great; very soundtrack-esque (you’re clearly a fan of the same 80s movies I am!). A wee bit repetitive, but a superb effort for an afternoon. The Robocop sample works nicely at the end but is strictly-speaking 'illegal' for the purpose of this challenge - “No unlicensed samples” - so yeah, dead or alive [i]you’re[/i] coming with me! [b]the boy: [/b]Beautiful! Grabbed me right from the start. Very nice choice of sounds. Great lyrics and vocal (maybe needs a slightly ‘warmer’ reverb, but I’m splitting hairs…). Love the simplicity of it all. I was waiting for it to step up a gear towards the end, but the sax parts gives it just the lift it needs without any grand fanfare. Very nice indeed mate. A tough call as always, but in the end my vote went to… [spoiler]Ou7shined! I thought you nailed the vibe of the photo very well and your track came across as being very creative, well played and produced. Ticked all the right boxes for me The boy was a close second - beautiful song.[/spoiler] And well done to EVERYONE who took part this month! A really diverse and enjoyable mix of new music. [b]Voting ends at midnight. Can whoever wins please message me with their choice of photo this evening or sometime tomorrow, so we can kick off the next one promptly.[/b] Ta! Paul

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1393594095' post='2382345'] For some reason sound cloud is not working Will try again later. [/quote] Hi Thurbs. It's working ok for me (using the Firefox browser). But it does suffer from occasional hiccups... try again later and if you're still having problems let us know here and I'll try to find a fix for you.

[size=5][color=#B22222][b]Voting ends tonight at midnight![/b][/color][/size] If you haven't yet had a listen and picked your favourite then please do. Cheers m'dears

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1393167692' post='2376873'] I was so inspired by this month's picture that a couple of weeks ago I couldn't sleep because of this idea for a hip hop tune going around in my head. I got up out of bed and penned it. Too late to enter the comp but I'll be making a tune out of it anyway once the laptops fixed. [/quote] Hehe, that's the spirit! And apologies for any sleepless nights caused.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1393581298' post='2382102'] [/quote] You can't fool us, Sylvia. That gig bag idea is just so you can bring it back home with a shiny new bass inside! Have fun and keep the BC flag flying.

Loved that! Really good. Top notch production. Nice bass tone (and that's just from listening on my iPhone speaker). I liked the song itself... and the video has a few surprises that I wasn't expecting. Very well done indeed

This thread is brilliant! Abridged version: "After years of searching I've found my perfect bass!" "Ah that's brilliant mate. Life is but a quest through which we endeavor to find our true meaning... a perfect bass is an extension of our inner Zen, we're all so happy that you've found The One and can set about forging the hallowed matrimony of the Ying and the Yang". "Err, yeah, about that perfect bass. It doesn't quite look right". "Don't be such a numpty" "Alright, I'll keep it then"

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1393329526' post='2378713'] Any undue force either by mallet or clamp ain't a good idea. I've seen a fair number of cracked headstocks caused this way. Just use a round file to open up the hole a tad, trying a push fit after each pass. Hand pressure only should be sufficient. [/quote] That's good advice! I'm going to do exactly that. Cheers

I've got a set of old Fender machine head bushings that I'm due to install in an equally old '70s neck. I've tried pushing them in by hand but they're a tight fit and are going to need some additional 'persuasion'. I considered tapping them with a rubber mallet, but that seemed like a bad idea. So through a bit of Googling I've come across a recommendation to push them in using a clamp (such as [url="http://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-quick-grip-6-mini-one-handed-bar-clamp/29139?kpid=29139&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CNC-hdma57wCFdShtAodlDMARw"]this one[/url]), using a dash of soap on the bushings to lubricate the process. This seems like a good method to me, but I wanted to check how the good people of Basschat typically go about this? Ta

Nice bass! Really great work by Ou7shined on this Now post up some sounds, I want to hear it!

[quote name='bobbass4k' timestamp='1393027735' post='2375521'] Recording and mixing mine has taken about 4 billion times longer than expected, but it will be finished! I'll PM you the link when it's up. [/quote] No worries Bob! I'll happily add it to the list once you're done mate.

[b][color=#b22222][size=5]Voting ends tonight (Friday) at midnight![/size][/color][/b] It's that time of the month. No, not [i]that[/i] time. Nor that one (I had a bath only last week). But this one... time to vote in the Basschat Composition Challenge! Eight tracks for your delectation. Each inspired by an image of Detroit's landmark Michigan Central Station. Linky here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/230387-february-composition-challenge-voting/"][b][size=5]TAKE ME TO THE MUSIC[/size][/b][/url] Please pick your favourite and place your vote. Your fellow Basschatters need YOU! Thanks muchly

[color=#b22222][size=5][b]The voting thread is now up![/b][/size][/color] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/230387-february-composition-challenge-voting/"][size=5]GO, GO, GO!!![/size][/url]

[quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1392940939' post='2374625']Techno isn't really my thing Skol so you are very honoured as I like it [/quote] Thanks Steve! Appreciated. I've yet to listen through them all, but I'll post some feedback when I do. [quote name='the boy' timestamp='1393020578' post='2375449']Here's my entry....[/quote] [quote name='AL-the-Bassman' timestamp='1393009060' post='2375296']The mrs went out today, and kid went to nanna's which gave me time to knock one out .....and plenty of time to record this[/quote] Well done guys! Good to have you both onboard. [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1392932009' post='2374506']That's an absolute cracker - there is a timeless element to it - bit of 70's electronic, bit of 80's (Black Box) and then some bang up to date (OK late 90's - that's the closest I do to up to date) sounds. Great job.[/quote] Cheers Myke, very kind My taste in electronica runs from the mid-80s to present day, so there may well be a whole bunch of influences in there.

[color=#b22222][size=5][b]Voting has now started on February's Composition Challenge![/b][/size][/color] Here's the inspiration for this month's music: And here are the compositions. Please listen to each track and pick your favourite: [b]stu g[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/stuartgeary/motorcity-2"]https://soundcloud.c...ary/motorcity-2[/url] [b]Dad3353[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/dad3353/talk-to-the-station-1"]https://soundcloud.c...o-the-station-1[/url] [b]Ou7shined[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/ou7shined/remember-this-station-final"]https://soundcloud.c...s-station-final[/url] [b]Stephen Houghton[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/9thaspect/its-got"]https://soundcloud.c...haspect/its-got[/url] [b]Skol303[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/skollob/303-through-and-through"]https://soundcloud.c...ugh-and-through[/url] [b]lurksalot[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/lurksalot/requiem-in-somnium"]https://soundcloud.c...uiem-in-somnium[/url] [b]AL-the-Bassman[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/al-the-bassman/detroit-needs-robocop"]https://soundcloud.c...t-needs-robocop[/url] [b]the boy[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/theboysings/train"]https://soundcloud.c...eboysings/train[/url] [b]bobbass4k[/b] https://soundcloud.com/bobbass4k/monolith [color=#b22222][b][size=5]Voting ends on Friday 28th February at midnight.[/size][/b][/color] Well done to everyone who submitted a track! A champion effort, as always

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1392913202' post='2374122'] Thanks for pointing out; now fixed (I hope. Fingers crossed... ) [/quote] Thanks Doug, it's now working. I like it! Bass tone sounds nice and beat is interesting. I didn't realise you'd been working on stuff outside of the BC challenges. I mean really, how [i]dare[/i] you!! Seriously though, keep us posted. I always enjoy hearing what folks are getting up to.

I'm in the process of putting together a '74 Precision but it's got nothing to do with how it'll sound and everything to do with me being 40 this year. I just like the idea of having a bass that's got a nice, aged patina to match my own. There's talk of older wood being dryer and consequently more 'resonant', but frankly I'm not qualified to judge and probably wouldn't be able to notice anyway. But the whole notion of "old stuff is best" is pretty much what fuels the entire antiques industry. You could apply the same logic we're using in this discussion to antique cars, pottery, art, furniture, etc. The old stuff will always be more expensive but often less practical and functional than the newer stuff (not always the case, of course). But most people don't value old stuff because it's somehow 'better' than its modern counterpart, they value it because it's simply old and steeped in nostalgia. That's not something you can fabricate; hence it has value.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1392906548' post='2374016']It's definitely my cup of tea. Great effort, love it.[/quote] [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1392909106' post='2374060']Nice one. Yep not normally my cuppa chai but it honestly got my feet going. Transported me right back to when the only thing on the box after the pub was the Hitman and Her (which somehow slowly became the only thing worth watching... apart from Prisoner CBH and Sledghammer of course). I'm hearing a more modern Wipeout type feel in there too. Do I hear the game developers a'knocking? [/quote] Cheers fellas, glad you dig it I totally get the Wipeout reference... I used to love playing that game! To date the only knocking I've heard has been an air pocket in our plumbing system, but maybe one day the game devs will come calling with their chequebooks! Or just some nice cake. I'd work for cake. [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1392909810' post='2374072']Small world, eh..? Here's a track I did recently featuring this very same vocalist (and a couple of others for good measure..!).[/quote] Haha, indeed! The link seems kaput (as mentioned by Ou7shined), so please fix as I'm keen to have a listen.

Ok I’m in. A hastily finished creation from me this month… and one that I wager will not be many people’s cup of tea! But meh, no matter. I had a number of different ideas this time, but the one that I went with was an old school techno track in honour of Detroit’s colossal influence on electronic music - notably pioneered by 80s/90s producers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson (who were heroes of mine ‘back in the day’). That’s not to say that my track is anywhere near the same calibre. Mine is an ill conceived mess of noise, but it’s well intentioned! I also thought that the old Michigan Station looks like the sort of place that has seen a few illegal raves in recent years. I used to go to warehouse parties myself during the UK rave era (for me, early 90s) and it reminded me of some of the old industrial buildings in which we had great times. The crazy, shrill (some might say annoying), formant-sounding synth you’ll hear playing throughout is the legendary [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_TB-303"]Roland TB-303[/url]. My favourite synth of all time! (hence my username). You don’t play a 303 like you would a normal keyboard synth - it has to be programmed using a step sequencer; the real magic happening when you start tweaking the cut off, resonance, envelope and other dials whilst it's playing, which gives the synth its characteristic 'voice'. I don’t own an actual 303: they fetch around £3K these days, which is a little rich for something I would only use on rare occasions. But I have a plug-in ([url="http://www.audiorealism.se/abl/abl2_announcement.htm"]this one[/url] if you’re interested) that emulates one quite nicely. The weird thing is that the TB-303 was originally intended as a “bass accompaniment” instrument for use by guitarists practising alone, as were the Roland 808 and 909 drum machines - all of which became instrumental in defining the sound of acid house and techno, albeit through ‘misuse’. I do wonder whether the guy who invented it had ever heard a bass guitar in his life Anyway, I’m rambling… Here’s the track: [url="https://soundcloud.com/skollob/303-through-and-through"]https://soundcloud.c...ugh-and-through[/url] PS: the vocal is a copyright-free sample kindly made available by Patricia Edwards, a singer from Buffalo USA. I’ll be posting up the voting thread tomorrow at midnight. If you miss the deadline then just message me with a link to your track whenever it’s finished (ideally on SoundCloud) and I’ll add it to the roster. Cheers!

This is great Mike! Very nice indeed mate. I wasn’t sure where it was heading from the outset - in a good way - and then when the drums kick in it just takes off. Brilliant. Nice melody; bass sound lush; Andy’s trumpeting is just sublime as usual (cool echo/delay on that too). Production sounds good for a jam session. It sounds like your soundcard is struggling in a few places - especially when things get busy, like when you’re thumbing - so maybe try recording with a slightly lower level next time and leave some headroom to play with, which will avoid the odd bits of distortion. But that’s a minor quibble. Anyway, great to see you’re getting to grips with Ableton! This sounds to me like it’s only a few small steps away from being something you and Andy could take out and gig with. And more’s the point… there are some ideas in here that I think we could incorporate into some of our new material (yeah, I’m ever the sample thief…). Nice room too. I dig the orange vibe.

[quote name='bobbass4k' timestamp='1392804626' post='2372849']Don't worry, there are predominant sections of 5/4 and 7/4, and a random bar of 13/8, I haven't gone totally crazy.[/quote]